melson



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-$heet 1.

J. T. MELSON.

AUTOMATIC AIR BRAKE COUPLER.

No 352,927. Patented Nov 23, 1886.

W|TNE55E5= Y INVENTEIH 14 )11 Adm/Z N. PETERS. Pmwum n hur. Wnihinglon. n c

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. T. MELSON. AUTOMATIC AIR BRAKE 001131.311.

No. 352,927. r Patented NOV. 23,1886.

WITNE55E5= INVENTDFI (No Mo de l.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. T. MELSON.

' AUTOMATIC AIR BRAKE COUPLER.

No. 352,927. Patented Nov. 28, 1886.

WW m M V r N 4% 0 V 7 m a?? v N L n M Q M n k #v fi 5% Q w M M w R W W NITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. MELSON, OF LAUREL, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO ALEXANDER Y. DAVISON, GORDON S. OARRIGAN, AND WVILLIAM S. OARRIGAN, ALL OF PHILADELPHIA PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC AIR-BRAKE COUPLER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 352,927, dated November 23, 1886.

Application filed August 14, 1886. Serial No. 210,946. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known. that I, JOHN T. MELSON, of Laurel, in the county of Sussex and State of Delaware, have invented certain new and use 5.ful Improvements in Automatic Air-Brake Couplers, of which improvements the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus secured to the platforms of railroad-cars in any suitlO able manner, or preferably to car-couplers,-

and operating simultaneously therewith for automatically connecting the air-brake mech anism of one railroad-car with another, and thereby dispensing entirely with the ordinary r well-known hand mode of coupling the cars by means of short lengths of hose provided with interlocking couplings.

It is well understood by railroad-engineers that the air-brakes of railway-cars have heretofore been operated by an auxiliary steamengine connected with the locomotive, and which, by means of an air-pump, compressed the air into a main reservoir having in some instances single pipe connections leading therefrom, but now more generally provided with double pipe-connectionsleadingfrom the main reservoir to the brake-cylinder located beneath'each car and provided with suitable intermediate connections, so that either or both pipes might be in use at one time for conveying the compressed air, or in case of breakage at any point arranged so that com munication with the broken point couldlbe automatically closed and the'remaining pipe- 5 connection allowed to perform its specific function of supplying compressed air to operate a piston, the stem of which either directly or indirectly actuated any well-known construction of brake-levers, the connections be- 0 tween the respective cars from the locomotive to the .end of the train being'established by means of short lengths of hose attached to pipes leading from the brake-cylinder of each car, the opposite ends being provided with suitable interlocking couplings, permitting of the coupling and uncoupling of the cars by hand. This, however, as is well understood, involved not only the consumption of considerable time, but, moreover, placed persons having charge of such work in dangerous positions, resulting very often in the loss of both life and limb, and hence such system of coupling the air-brake mechanism between cars has been open to objectionable and dangerous contingencies, which it is eminently desirable should be obviated; to which ends my invention consists in securing in any suitable manner to the platforms. of railroad-cars, or preferably to the drawheads and necks of anywell-known construction of car-couplers, automatically-operating devices which couple and uncouple simultaneously with the car-couplers, and automatically establish direct communication of the .passages for the conduction of the air from one car to another, through the action of valves provided in the respective sections of the coupling device, whereby the application of the air to the brake mechanism of the respective cars may be readily applied and regulated by the engineer in charge of the locomotive. The sections of the coupling device are so constructed that in case of disconnection of one car from another the air will be automatically shut off by the closing of the valve or valves in the section uncoupled.

This automatic air-brake-coupling device consists, preferably, of two sections, designated as right and left hand members, which are provided with double port-holes and cham- 8c bers, divided by partition -walls having entrance and exit tubes for the passage of the air therethrough to the brake mechanism beneath the respective cars, for actuating the brakes. Cast with each sectionof the coupling device is a deflecting hood, the interior surface of which, by preference, is beveled. off and provided at the top thereof With an oblong opening, into which thetong'ue of each section is inserted. The tongues of the right and left hand sections, respectively, fit snugly into the oblong openings in the hoods, firmly holdingthese sections together. Surrounding the exterior surface of the port-hole openings of each section leading into the respective 5 chambers is a packing of rubber fiber or other suitable material, forming and maintaining airtight seats between the respective sections of the coupling device while coupled together. The chambers in each section, separated from one another by a partition wall, taper from the front somewhat to a central four-sided apartment, having front and rear apertures therein for the passage of theair therethrough.

Directly over these apartments, from the outside thereof, are drilled into them annular openings, in which are inserted rods carrying threaded sleeves. These sleeves firmly hold the rods in position, and permit them, provided at their upper portions with arms secured thereto in any suitable manner, to be moved backward and forward in a manner to be presently explained. The lower portions of these rods extend to or near the floors of these apartments, and to which doors are secured having on one sidethereof rubber fiber or other similar material, for a purpose to be presently described. These doors open a sufficient distance to permit of the passage of the air through the sections from one car to another when the sections are coupled together, and when uncoupled the doors in the section of the car uncoupled will he closed against the front aperture of the apartments, and the packing around thefront sides of the doors, by the pressure of the air against the backs of the doors, will effectually prevent the escape of the air. The respective sections above and below the hoods have cast thereto brackets, through which keyed arms are inserted having spiral springs coiled around them, or, in-

stead thereof, rubber fiber, and the opposite ends secured to projections on an adjustable sleeve. Through this adjustable sleeve the vertical U-shaped rod fitting the draw-head of the car-coupler is attached, or it may be secured directly to the draw-head or to the platform of the car by the drilling of a hole therethrough and securing the same thereto by means of nuts. Above and below the adj ustable sleeve to the vertical rod are attached snpportingarms, to, one of which an adjustable eye or ring for encircling the neck of the draw-head is riveted.

The construction, arrangement, and operation of my invention will be hereinafter more particularly described by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein I have represented a form of apparatus which I have found practically efficient, embodying the essential features thereof.

Figure l is a perspective view of my automatic air-brake-coupling device, showing the right and left members thereof coupled together in an operative position,with the arms which actuate the valves in a position for admitting of the passage of the air through the sections, and also showing the mechanism and manner of attaching the same to the drawhead and neck of any well-known construction of ear-couplers. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the right and left hand sections of the automatic air-brake coupler disconnected, showing the position of the valve-arms when the sections are uncoupled, and also a modified form of the vertical supporting-rod for connecting the apparatus to the car-couplers or the platforms of the cars. Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the respective sections of the automatic air-brake-coupling apparatus. Fig.

at is a horizontal section of the respective sections of the coupler, on the line a: a of Fig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively vertical sections on the lines 3 3/ and z z of Fig. 2, showing in the former view the automatically-operating valve or Valves closed. Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the line I I of Fig. 4, showing in detail the valve and mechanism connected therewith for opening and closing the airpassages through each section. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of one section of the coupling device, showing the valves and leverarms for opening and the retracting-Sp ring for returning the valves and lever-arms to their normal position; and Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the eye or ring for encircling the neck of an ordinary car-coupler, the vertical arm extending through the sleeve threaded at its upper end, with a nut thereon, and the ad justable sleeve for supporting one section of the coupling device.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and mode of operation, with special reference to the accompanying'drawings.

This automatic air-brake coupler consists of two sections, a a, designated as right and left hand members, made of malleable or wrought iron, or any other suitable metal, each section ofwhich is provided with two tubes or pipes, b 12', cast therewith and in direct communication with the air-chambers c 0', divided by a partition-wall, (I. At the other extremity of these chambers c c are deep port-holes e (2, around the outer surface of which port-holes rubber fiber f or other similar material is secured, forming seats, whereby an air-tight connection may be established and maintained while the respective sections a a are coupled together.

The chambers c c taper from the front extremity of each section to central apartments, L L, having front and rear sides and apertures, ZZ, therein, for the passage of the air therethrough. Around the front of the doors in each section is secured rubber fiber or other similar material, I, for the purpose of preventing the air from escaping when a section is uncoupled. Directly over these apartments L. L, from the outside thereof, are drilled through the metal into them holes, into which are inserted rods or spindles to, carrying threaded sleeves 10, these threaded sleeves w firmly holding the rods w w in position. To the upperportion of the rods are secured leverarms to w, which are free to move backward and forward within the sleeves w.

Riveted to the coupling, as shown in Figs. 2 and 8, are retracting-springs w, which are attached to the backs of the doors in each section for returning them to their normal positions upon the disconnection of the coupler. To the lower portion of the rods to w are secured in any suitable manner doors w 10 which open automatically bythe action of the tongue 2' of each section-coupling, and close by the pressure of the air against the backs of the doors, aided by the retracting-springs w, so that when closed against the rubber-fiber facing on the front ofthe doors air-tightjoiuts will be formed and the escape of air absolutely prevented.

To each section of the coupler is cast or otherwise secured a hood, g, having, preferably, three deflecting exterior sides and a corresponding number of beveled off interior sides, provided in the top thereof with an oblong opening, h, for the reception and passage therethrough of thetongue 13, provided upon the front extremity of each section. Above and beyond the hood gare brackets or sockets jj, for the reception of the arms m m, provided at one end with openings at, for the reception of keys, and rigidly secured at their opposite ends to the sleeves 1). Around these arms at m are coiled spiral springs 0 0; or, instead thereof, rubber fiber q q may be used, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and through the openings m of the arms m m are inserted keys 7' 1" Thissleeve 12 supports each section of the coupler by means of the armsmm, held in the brackets or sockets jj by the keys 1* r. The sleevesv p of the respective sections are so arranged and adjusted that the different lateral and longitudinal movements of the car-couplers caused by sudden jars of the train, or otherwise, will not in the least affect theair-tight connection of the two sections while connected. Through each sleeve p is passed a U-shaped supporting-arm, s, as shown in Fig. 1,havi'ng keys s a cast upon the upper ends thereof for holding the coupler securely to the draw-head; or, instead of the U-shaped arm, an arm, 8 as shown in Figs. 2 and ,9, may be used having its upper.

end threaded for attachment directly to the draw-head or to the platform of the cars, and secured thereto by means of a nut, s. Below the sleeve p is a supporting bracket-arm, t, fitting'snugly around the arm 3, and supported thereon by a pin, t, passing through a slot therein, and the opposite end of this bracketarm t has riveted to it an adjustable eye or ring, a, for encircling the neck of the drawhead. Above the sleevep and around the arm t fits snugly a secondary supporting-arm, 'v, the opposite end of which is substantially inform that ofthe figure 2, and this arm fits snuglyinto a recess in the bottom of the adjustable eye or ring.

The mode of operation of the apparatus may be briefly explained as follows: The two sections are secured to the respective car-couplers or to the platform of the cars for operation, and the pipes 12 b connected, by means of short lengths of hose k with the brake-operating mechanism beneath the cars in the wellunderstood manner, and the-cars then coupled together, simultaneously coupling the two sections of the air-coupling apparatus operating the lever-arms, as shown in Fig. 1, which opens the doors in the respective apartments of the sections sufficiently to allow of the free passage ofthe air through them. The air is then turned on by the engineer from the locomotive and regulated by him, as usual, and hence it will be observed that air-tight connections between the respective cars will be established and maintained until the car-couplings are disconnected, which will simultaneously release the air-brake couplers; but, however, the escape of air from the remaining cars of the train will not in the least be affected by such disconnection, because i the release of the coupler automatically closes the valves of thedisconnected end section of the coupler.

While I have described the best means known to me at the present time for accomplishing my object, yet, nevertheless, I desire I it to be distinctly understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the precise mechanismhereinabove described, as it is obvious that the same may be altered without departing from the spirit of my invention, which is to. automatically couple the air-brake mechanism of one railroad-car with another, and in so do: ing regulate the passage of the air through the respective sections of the coupler automatically and close the valves therein in a similar manner when uncoupled, whereby the escape of air may be entirely prevented.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An automatic air-brake coupler consisting of two sections provided with entrance and exit tubes in communication with chambers in saidsections separated from one another by partition-walls, said chambers opening into. central apartments, and valve-doors attached to vertical rods carrying lever-arms playing freely within threaded sleeves secured to said sections, in combination with brackets and arms keyed to said brackets, carrying spiral springs, sleeves secured to said arms, and "ertical supporting-arms passing through said sleeves, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

.2. The combination of an automatic air-- brake coupler consisting of two sections pro-. vided with entrance and exit tubes, chambers in communication therewith, central apartments in the respective sections, valve-doors therein attached to vertical rods carr ying lever-arms, retracting-springs secured in said chambers and to the valve-doors, and means, as described, for attaching the respective sections to the cars, substantially as and for the 4 purposes set forth.

3. An automatic air-brake coupler consist; ing of two sections having ports and chambers therein 'and entrance and exit pipes in direct communication therewith,in combination with adjustable sleeves supported upon U-shaped arms, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination, with an automatic air: brake coupler, of a vertical supporting-arm, a bracket attached thereto and supporting'an adjustable eye or ring, and a secondary arm supported upon said vertical arm and held in a recess in said adjustable ring or eye,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination of an automatic airbrake coupler consisting of the sections a a, sockets yj, arms in m, springs 0 0, sleeves 19, vertical arms 8, brackets t, secondary arms '0, and adjustable ring a, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. The combination, with automatic airbrake-coupling apparatus, of vertical supp orting-arms, sleeves supported thereon, brackets secured to said arms, and eyes or rings at tached to said brackets, substantially as and for the purposes described.

, 7. An automatic air-brake coupler consist ing of two sections provided with port-openings, the surrounding surfaces of which are covered with rubber fiber drsimilar material, in combination with central apartments in the sections divided by partition -walls and en trance and exit tapering tubes connected therewith, brackets, arms cast to sleeves carrying helicoidal springs keyed to said brackets, verit by the coupling and uncoupling of the sections,

substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the'presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN T. MELSON.

Witnesses: J osnrn T. HASTING,

G. A. HITOHENS. 

